Germany Travelhttp://www.travelsignposts.com/Germany
Fri, 10 Apr 2015 09:49:27 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=4.2.3Buying a Mercedes-Benz on your vacation is not so crazy!http://www.travelsignposts.com/Germany/shopping/buying-a-mercedes-benz-on-holiday
http://www.travelsignposts.com/Germany/shopping/buying-a-mercedes-benz-on-holiday#respondFri, 10 Apr 2015 09:49:27 +0000http://www.travelsignposts.com/Germany/?p=5322TAKE DELIVERY AND DRIVE YOUR NEW MERCEDES-BENZ ON YOUR EUROPEAN VACATION: For most of us, a holiday in Europe is a chance to indulge in some shopping for things like fashion wear, bags, shoes, belts or other little souvenir items. For the car enthusiast however, the shopping basket can be a bit more serious, especially when […]

]]>TAKE DELIVERY AND DRIVE YOUR NEW MERCEDES-BENZ ON YOUR EUROPEAN VACATION:

Buying a Mercedes-Benz on your holiday

For most of us, a holiday in Europe is a chance to indulge in some shopping for things like fashion wear, bags, shoes, belts or other little souvenir items. For the car enthusiast however, the shopping basket can be a bit more serious, especially when car companies like Mercedes-Benz make it very attractive, through their European Delivery Program, for holidaymakers to acquire their next Mercedes-Benz and enjoy driving it whilst on vacation in Europe.

European Delivery Program

Although car manufacturers like Mercedes-Benz have been running their European Delivery Program (EDP) for some time now, we only recently learned about it from relatives who were visiting us from the U.S. These programs are typically aimed at the North American market, which is the most profitable market for the likes of Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Porsche.

The program works well if you’re buying a new Mercedes-Benz car as well as planning a driving holiday in Europe. It lets you select and build your own EDP car online and take delivery at the factory. On your arrival in Stuttgart, you will be taken on a tour of the Mercedes-Benz factory at Sindelfingen before taking delivery of your vehicle.

The registration of your car and European road insurance for your two-week driving holiday are organized by Mercedes-Benz. They also provide you with a full tank of gas to set you on your way, but before driving off you may want to visit the Mercedes-Benz Museum and learn about the 125-year history of the automobile industry.

Mercedes-Benz-Museum Stuttgart

At the end of your driving holiday, you can drop-off your car at one of the many designated drop-off locations in Europe and you’re reunited with your car when it arrives at your selected car dealership back home.

Other Benefits of the EDP

Our relatives say that buying their car through the Mercedes-Benz EDP was cost effective and apart from being able to test drive the car in the country of manufacture, the other benefits of the EDP include:

7% discount on selected model price

1 night’s accommodation in a luxury hotel in Stuttgart

Assistance with hotel and flight bookings and they also offer driving holiday packages

2 taxi coupons for ride from the airport or train station to the Delivery Centre

Mercedes-Benz Sindelfingen factory tour and breakfast or lunch

2 tickets to the Mercedes-Benz Museum

15 days European road insurance

Full tank of fuel

Transportation of the vehicle to your selected U.S. dealer

Marine insurance

Destination charge is waived

You also save on two weeks of car rental as you’re driving your own car in Europe.

Companies like Mercedes-Benz know how to look after their customers well and judging from the comments of our relatives, they were very happy with their whole European Delivery Program experience, so much so they are planning their next purchase.

The Mercedes-Benz EDP is for the North American left-hand drive market and I’m not sure if they do it for other countries. Just as well that they don’t offer it in Australia or else Tony will be quite tempted to order a Mercedes-AMG GT.

For more about the Mercedes-Benz European Delivery Program, see their website www.mbusa.com

On Friday, June 19th, the 63rd Festspiele Europäische Wochen Passau (Passau European Weeks Festival ) opens under the theme “Uberbrucken”. This year’s opening performance at the Bräuhausplatz Hacklberg features the commissioned work by an Austrian composer, Alfred Huber. His composition “Danubio” reflects the Festival theme and you might recognize strands of the Blue Danube in it.

This long-running and prestigious Passau Music Festival takes place at a range of venues across town, such as churches, the Passau town hall, monasteries and theatres.

Passau Music Festival Program 2015

With the Festival theme “Uberbrucken”, Johann Strauss’s Blue Danube Waltz will certainly be featured. But, if you’re concerned that the Festival is going to be all about waltzes, you need not worry. The Festival program includes a range of operas, oratorios, orchestral, choral and solo concerts, recitals, dance, theater, reading, film, exhibitions, etc. Performing at this Bavarian festival are internationally renowned artists as well as fresh young talents.

Festspiele Europäische Wochen Passau closes on August 2nd with a concert at the Passau Study Church.

Hotels in Passau

To follow through with the Blue Danube theme, the 4-star Hotel Residenz is situated on the banks of the River Danube. Located in the heart of the Old Town of Passau, it is within easy reach of St. Stephan’s Cathedral and the historic Residenzplatz square. The Hotel König is another hotel on the banks of the River Danube and within 5 minutes walk of Passau attractions. For all other Passau hotels, see HERE.

]]>http://www.travelsignposts.com/Germany/news-events/passau-music-festival/feed/0Hotel Zum Ritter St Georg – A Knighted Hotelhttp://www.travelsignposts.com/Germany/sightseeing/hotel-zum-ritter-st-georg
http://www.travelsignposts.com/Germany/sightseeing/hotel-zum-ritter-st-georg#respondFri, 20 Mar 2015 01:51:52 +0000http://www.travelsignposts.com/Germany/?p=5287ZUM RITTER ST GEORG IS ONE OF THE FEW PATRICIAN MANSIONS TO SURVIVE THE THIRTY YEARS WAR: One of the more interesting and historic hotel buildings in Heidelberg Old Town is the Hotel Zum Ritter St Georg at Hauptstrasse 178. Built by the Huguenot cloth merchant Charles Bélier in 1592, this gabled house is a […]

]]>ZUM RITTER ST GEORG IS ONE OF THE FEW PATRICIAN MANSIONS TO SURVIVE THE THIRTY YEARS WAR:

Upper facade of Hotel Zum Ritter St Georg

One of the more interesting and historic hotel buildings in Heidelberg Old Town is the Hotel Zum Ritter St Georg at Hauptstrasse 178. Built by the Huguenot cloth merchant Charles Bélier in 1592, this gabled house is a Late Renaissance architectural style that was commonly found in Heidelberg during that period. However, Zum Ritter St Georg is one of the few patrician mansions to survive the War of the Palatinate Succession.

Zum Ritter St Georg

Hotel Zum Ritter St Georg is opposite the Heiliggistkirche (Church of the Holy Spirit Church) on Marktplatz. On top of the pointy gable of the building is a knightly bust of St George, after whom the building was named. Perhaps it was due to the protection of St George that Zum Ritter survived the repeated French invasions and total destruction of the area during the War of the Palatinate Succession.

When Charles Bélier, had his Haus Zum Ritter built in 1592 he added touches to the facade which immortalized himself and his family. The ram symbol above the entrance is the coat-of-arms of his family (Bélier was an immigrant from France and “bélier” is French for “ram”). In the right box sill of the second floor of the building are the engraved images of Bélier and his wife Francina. Below the pediment are the Latin inscriptions: PERSTA invita, VENUS which translates as “Stay always undefeated, beauty”.

Hotel Zum Ritter on Marktplatz

As it was one of the few remaining intact townhouses in the Old Town, Zum Ritter served as the City Hall from 1693 to 1703. Apart from this period, it has been operated as a hotel and inn since the end of the Thirty Years War.

Great Fan of Hotel Zum Ritter St Georg

One of the famous guests of Hotel Zum Ritter St Georg was Victor Hugo who described the hotel as a gorgeous building, and he went into great lengths in describing its features and its great resilience in surviving the many fires and sieges.

Tips for Booking Zum Ritter

If you’re looking for a hotel with friendly service and old world charm, you can’t beat the location of Hotel Zum Ritter St Georg right on Marktplatz. Ask for a room that overlooks the church for a better view of the Old Town. However, being on Markplatz can mean some noise from Heidelberg’s vibrant nightlife as well as church bells ringing, so bring earplugs if you are sensitive to noise. You can book Hotel Zum Ritter Here. With only 37 rooms, Hotel Zum Ritter St Georg gets booked up, so book early if you plan to stay here.

]]>http://www.travelsignposts.com/Germany/sightseeing/hotel-zum-ritter-st-georg/feed/0Shopping in Heidelberghttp://www.travelsignposts.com/Germany/shopping/shopping-in-heidelberg
http://www.travelsignposts.com/Germany/shopping/shopping-in-heidelberg#respondWed, 18 Mar 2015 00:55:01 +0000http://www.travelsignposts.com/Germany/?p=5250SHOPPING IN HEIDELBERG IS EASY AS MANY SHOPS ARE LOCATED IN THE OLD TOWN: Although Heidelberg is not known as a shopping destination, there are more than 400 shops in this town that will keep you busy. The Old Town (Altstadt) accounts for a third of all shops in Heidelberg, which makes it convenient for […]

]]>SHOPPING IN HEIDELBERG IS EASY AS MANY SHOPS ARE LOCATED IN THE OLD TOWN:

Hauptstrasse – Heidelberg’s main shopping street

Although Heidelberg is not known as a shopping destination, there are more than 400 shops in this town that will keep you busy.

The Old Town (Altstadt) accounts for a third of all shops in Heidelberg, which makes it convenient for shopping. The main shopping area is the rectangle bounded by Hauptstraße, the main pedestrian street that is known for shopping, Plöck (south of Hauptstraße) and Marktplatz (at the eastern end of the rectangle) and Bismarckplatz to the west (the tram and bus hub). Just on Hauptstraße alone there are many boutiques, gift shops, bookshops and shops that cater for your daily needs.

Shops in Heidelberg

Most of the shops in Heidelberg are small businesses or retail outlets of international chains, but there are department stores as well.

Fashion and accessories – Some international high-street chain stores along Hauptstraße include Stefanel, Esprit, Benetton, Geox, Mango, H&M and Foot Locker. When the sale signs are up, it’s hard to walk the length of Hauptstraße and not be enticed … and I’m speaking from experience here.

Shopping in Heidelberg

Books – Being a university town, there are many bookshops in Heidelberg and you’ll find them in Hauptstraße, Plöck and especially around Universitätsplatz. Some have an English language section where you can buy your reading material or last minute guide books or maps.

Gifts and Souvenirs – One of the most popular gift shops along Hauptstraße would have to be Käthe Wohlfahrt at Hauptstraße 124. The Käthe Wohlfahrt store is a treasure trove of Christmas gifts and decorations that lovers of all things Christmas will find hard to resist. At Käthe Wohlfahrt Christmas shopping is available all year round.

Kathe Wohlfahrt Christmas Shop

Other gift shops along Hauptstraße include Swarovski at Hauptstraße 85, Best of British at Hauptstraße 192 and Tinney’s Irish shop at Hauptstraße 194.

For the cheaper souvenirs and postcards, the stalls surrounding the Heiliggeistkirche in Marktplatz have everything from umbrellas, tea towels, flags, and all sorts of tacky souvenirs. It’s odd that Heidelberg’s most famous church would allow these lower quality stalls to be attached to the exterior of this magnificent church, which unfortunately gives it a trashy look.

Souvenir stalls around the Heiliggeistkirche i

If you prefer department store shopping, you can head for Galeria Kaufhof. There are several Galeria Kaufhof’s in town but the one at Bismarckplatz has seven levels of shopping. This store has everything from men’s and women’s clothing, shoes, household goods, toys, food and alcohol. If you’re looking for more serious branded goods, you’ll find Valentino, Aigner, Hugo Boss, Timberland and Calvin Klein here.

A Sweet Kind of Place

Heidelberg can’t compete with Rome or Paris when it comes to shopping for designer labels, but what it misses out in high fashion labels, it makes up for in sweets. The Heidelberger Studentenkuss is a Heidelberg tradition. Don’t leave town without buying one of these ‘Kisses’.

Student Kiss

If you can, try and visit the official Heidelberger Studentenkuss shop on Haspelgasse near the Alte Brücke. The owner of the shop is lovely to talk to and it helps that she speaks perfect English.

Heidelberger Zuckerladen at Plöck 52 is another popular candy store in Heidelberg. The dentist chair in the window warns of what happens to people who indulge in too much sweet, but those who dare to step into the store will enjoy the range of sweets and the quirky atmosphere created by its entertaining owners. You don’t have to be a kid to enjoy this shop, and most visitors come out raving about it.

If you happen to be in town on Wednesdays and Saturdays, you’ll find the local market in operation at the Marktplatz. The colourful market operates from 7 am to 2 pm only and you never know what local goods you can find here.

]]>http://www.travelsignposts.com/Germany/shopping/shopping-in-heidelberg/feed/0Heidelberg Tun – The World’s Largest Wine Barrelhttp://www.travelsignposts.com/Germany/sightseeing/heidelberg-tun
http://www.travelsignposts.com/Germany/sightseeing/heidelberg-tun#respondMon, 16 Mar 2015 00:58:51 +0000http://www.travelsignposts.com/Germany/?p=5201THE HEIDELBERG TUN WAS BUILT TO STORE WINE THAT WAS COLLECTED AS TAXES: Out of sheer curiosity as to what the world’s largest wine barrel looks like, we check out the Heidelberg Tun, during our visit to Heidelberg Castle. Built from the trunks of 130 oak trees, the Heidelberg Tun is an enormous wine barrel, […]

]]>THE HEIDELBERG TUN WAS BUILT TO STORE WINE THAT WAS COLLECTED AS TAXES:

Heidelberg Tun

Out of sheer curiosity as to what the world’s largest wine barrel looks like, we check out the Heidelberg Tun, during our visit to Heidelberg Castle. Built from the trunks of 130 oak trees, the Heidelberg Tun is an enormous wine barrel, capable of holding 219,000 litres of wine. But disappointingly for wine-lovers, this wine barrel has not been used to store wine since the late 18th century.

Gigantic wine barrels

Heidelberg Castle has a bizzare tradition of building larger-than-life wine barrels. Before the existing Heidelberg Tun was built, there were three other gigantic wine barrels built in 1591, 1664 and 1728.

The current Heidelberg Tun is 8.50 metres deep and 7.0 metres high. On top of the barrel is a balustraded platform which was built as a dance floor, believe it or not! To get a sense of how big this wine cask is, take a look at the photo above and if you look hard enough, you’ll see me in the top left corner.

The Heidelberg Tun sits in a cavern that is not much bigger than the wine cask itself. You climb to the platform via the set of steps on the right and descend from a spiral staircase on the left.

Heidelberg Tun

Mark Twain’s take on the barrel

Among the many people who pondered over why the Heidelberg Tun was built was Mark Twain. His conclusion was that the more one “studies over that, the more uncertain and unhappy he becomes”.

Mark Twain was obviously disappointed at the Heidelberg Tun being empty of wine and in his travelogue “A Tramp Abroad” he wrote: “An empty cask the size of a cathedral could excite but little emotion in me. I do not see any wisdom in building a monster cask to hoard up emptiness in, when you can get a better quality, outside, any day, free of expense.”

Heidelberg Tun

What we now know

We now know that the wine barrel was built by the Prince Elector Karl Theodor in 1751 to store the wine paid as taxes by the wine growers of the Palatine. Although the barrel was usually only partially full, it did serve the purpose that it was built for, although not for very long. Ten years after the barrel was built, it began to decay and spring leaks. The last extensive repair was in 1767 and after that it was decided to retire the barrel and keep it as a show piece for visitors to the castle.

View from the top of the Heidelberg Tun

So this “monster cask to hoard up emptiness in” is not completely useless. In fact it is a popular tourist attraction in Heidelberg and most visitors, including the groups of school kids that are brought here for history lessons, enjoy climbing to the top for a view down.

Perkeo of Heidelberg

In the cavern holding the Heidelberg Tun you’ll meet Perkeo, the unofficial mascot of Heidelberg. According to local legend, Perkeo, a notable court jester, was put in charge of the Heidelberg Tun.

Perkeo, the guardian of the Heidelberg Tun

Perkeo had a good knowledge of wine, but he also had a reputation for massive wine consumption. Whenever asked if he wanted another glass of wine at court functions he would famously reply “perché no?” (which is Italian for “why not”). Perkeo it seems never drinks anything, except for wine, and lived happily into his eighties. One day, when he took ill, the doctor had him drink water and he died the next day!

Mentioned in literature

Although the Heidelberg Tun had a relatively short life as wine barrel, it has been mentioned in many famous literary works such as Jules Verne’s novel Five Weeks in a Balloon, Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables, Washington Irving’s The Specter Bridegroom, Mary Hazelton Wade’s Bertha and not to mention Mark Twain’s A Tramp Abroad.

So when you visit Heidelberg Castle, check out this famous wine barrel and meet Perkeo, the guardian of the Heidelberg Tun.

]]>http://www.travelsignposts.com/Germany/sightseeing/heidelberg-tun/feed/0The Beer and Castle Route – A Beer-lover’s driving holidayhttp://www.travelsignposts.com/Germany/destinations/beer-and-castle-route
http://www.travelsignposts.com/Germany/destinations/beer-and-castle-route#respondSat, 14 Mar 2015 13:26:57 +0000http://www.travelsignposts.com/Germany/?p=5175THE BEER AND CASTLE ROUTE IS 500 KMS of THIRST-QUENCHING ENJOYMENT: For beer-lovers and those who enjoy driving holidays, The Beer and Castle Route in Germany is a journey that’s enticing and exciting. This 500 km route promises plenty of amber fluid in cozy and sociable drinking towns, and it also lets you explore the […]

For beer-lovers and those who enjoy driving holidays, The Beer and Castle Route in Germany is a journey that’s enticing and exciting. This 500 km route promises plenty of amber fluid in cozy and sociable drinking towns, and it also lets you explore the sights, culture, history, art, nature and good food along the route.

Welcome to Beer Country!

The Beer and Castle Route is a 500 km journey along the B85 (Bundesstraße 85) from Bad Frankenhausen in Thuringia on the southern slope of the Kyffhäuser Mountains to Passau, the “City of the Three Rivers” in Bavaria. Of course you can travel in the opposite direction as well.

This well-signposted route goes through a wealth of attractions and branching off to the right and left of this highway are side roads leading to impressive fortresses and imposing castles. Thuringia is nicknamed “the green heart of Germany” whereas Bavaria has the Bavarian Forest and Bohemian Forest as well as the romantic Danube and Main rivers.

Photo Courtesy of Germany Travel

This drive will take you through unspoilt countryside, nature reserves and romantic rivers and valleys. In addition to the varied insight into German traditions, sagas, legends, modern life, art and architecture, the route also offers the chance to experience a piece of German history. So, as you can see, the Beer and Castle Route is not about boozing on beer, it is a journey of discovery filled with activities that combine fun, history and of course the stops at towns and villages to quench your thirst and appreciate the beers in the Thuringia and Bavarian regions of Germany.

Beer and Castle Route Attractions

Beer and Castle Route: Courtesy Germany Travel

If starting from the north of this route, the Kyffhäuser Mountains (Kyffhäusergebirge) is the jewel in the crown of the Beer and Castle Route. The Kyffhäuser is significant as it is linked to a traditional German mythology concerning the Emperor Frederick Barbarossa. Although the emperor drowned in the Göksu River in 1190 during the Third Crusade, legend has it that Barbarossa is in fact not dead, but sleeps in the Barbarossa Cave (Barbarossahöhlen), a hidden chamber underneath the Kyffhäuser Mountains. For history fans, your lessons start here.

In addition to the spellbinding Barbarossa Cave, make sure to visit the Thuringian Forest and the famous Rennsteig Trail. The Thuringian Saaleland and Thuringian Highlands (Schiefergebirge) which so fascinated Goethe should not be missed.

Passau – The City of the Three Rivers, Veste Oberhaus Fortress, Cathedral

Beer is firmly routed in the German culture

Kulmbacher Altbier

Along the beer route there are over a thousand beer brands, each with its own unique beer flavour. The extensive range of beers includes dark full-bodied beers, fine Pilsners, refreshing wheat beers and smooth bock beers. Each of the breweries along the route has its own secret brew and with the huge variety of beer available, you are sure to find something of interest.

]]>http://www.travelsignposts.com/Germany/destinations/beer-and-castle-route/feed/0Oktoberfest 2015 – Traditional Oktoberfest Beer Tentshttp://www.travelsignposts.com/Germany/sightseeing/oktoberfest-beer-tents
http://www.travelsignposts.com/Germany/sightseeing/oktoberfest-beer-tents#commentsWed, 11 Mar 2015 02:55:22 +0000http://www.travelsignposts.com/Germany/?p=1568SOME TRADITIONAL BEER TENTS AT MUNICH OKTOBERFEST: There are fourteen large beer tents at Oktoberfest, each one offering visitors to the world’s most famous beer festival a particular experience, taste sensation, and of course beer. During our last Oktoberfest visit, we called into a few of the Oktoberfest tents below to check out the scene […]

There are fourteen large beer tents at Oktoberfest, each one offering visitors to the world’s most famous beer festival a particular experience, taste sensation, and of course beer.

During our last Oktoberfest visit, we called into a few of the Oktoberfest tents below to check out the scene at these traditional Oktoberfest beer tents, and to experience some traditional Oktoberfest hospitality ourselves.

Schottenhamel Tent

Schottenhamel began in 1867 as a single small shed behind the King’s marquee. Hardly 50 people could fit inside Michael Schottenhamel’s new Oktoberfest restaurant at that time. Today, the Schottenhamel tent and beer garden is the largest in Wiesn with a capacity for 10,000 people (6,000 inside and 4,000 outside)!

More importantly, Schottenhamel is the venue for the annual Oktoberfest tapping of the barrel tradition. At 12 noon sharp on the opening day, the first keg is tapped by the Mayor of Munich to the famous cry of O’zapft is! Only then can the other tents begin to serve beer. You cannot get more traditional than this! Website: www.schottenhamel.de

The Hofbräu Tent

After Schottenhamel, the Hofbräu Tent is the second largest at the Oktoberfest and can accommodate exactly 9,992 people. This includes the 1,000 standing places in front of the music stage – the only one of its kind on the Oktoberfest grounds. It says that Americans and Australians feel especially happy here – this sounds a bit ominous!

Hofbrau Oktoberfest Tent

Without fail, Hofbräu decorates its tent ceiling every year with twelve hundredweights of hop vines from the Holledau region. The decorations are beer-themed of course and its worthwhile paying a visit just to see this. Tuesday is family day at the Hofbräu Tent and 600 seats are reserved for parents and their children from 11:00 to 15:00. Website: www.hb-festzelt.de

Käfer’s Wies’n-Schänke

This comparatively small tent is apparently where the Munich celebrity guests hang out and you might spot a few international ones as well. This comfortable and cozy tent is popular with gourmands and if you like roast duck, this is the place to be. Website: www.feinkost-kaefer.de/oktoberfest

Fischer Vroni

Steckerlfisch being grilled

Fischer Vroni is a tent for people like us who have no interest in pig’s knuckles or meat of any sort. These guys specialize in steckerlfisch, a very popular meal at Oktoberfest. Here you can watch the skewered fish being grilled in a 15-meter row and then enjoy the freshly grilled fish.

The Augustiner Tent

For the friendlist of Oktoberfest hospitality, pay a visit to the Augustiner Tent where proprietor Manfred Vollmer and his team are considered one of the friendliest at the Oktoberfest.

Augustiner Brau Oktoberfest Tent

Augustiner serves hearty food to hungry revellers and the Augustiner Oktoberfest music band led by Reinhard Hagitte keeps the atmosphere jovial.

Apart from friendly service, what’s special about this tent is that Augustiner-Bräu of Munich makes a special Oktoberfest beer which is served only during this Munich beer fest and only from traditional wooden barrels. The Augustiner-Bräu beer tent seats 6,000 people inside and 2,500 people outside. Website: www.augustiner-braeu.de

Ochsenbraterei

If you like ox meat, Ochsenbraterei is the tent for you. What began as a ‘mechanical ox rotisserie’ run by the butcher Johann Rössler is now one of the biggest tents on the Theresienwiese and offers authentic oompah Oktoberfest music along with the food and drink. Today, the oxen are roasted whole on a modern spit but taste as good as they did back then.

The Ochsenbraterei, otherwise known as the Spatenbräu festival tent, will be represented at the Oktoberfest for the 134th time in 2015. Website: www.ochsenbraterei.de

Armbrustschützenzelt

And here’s a tent for archers. As long ago as 1895, the Winzerer Fähndl archers’ guild opened their first Oktoberfest tent to serve crossbowmen and their guests and to host shooting competitions. The German Crossbow Championships are held at the Oktoberfest to this day. An annex to the main Armbrustschützenzelt tent contains the 30-metre ranges. Brassbands enliven the atmosphere with waltzes, oompah music and party classics. Website: www.armbrustschuetzenzelt.de

In addition to the fourteen large beer tents, there are about 24 small tents as well, selling all kinds food.

]]>http://www.travelsignposts.com/Germany/sightseeing/oktoberfest-beer-tents/feed/1A Wonderful Christmas Experience at Käthe Wohlfahrthttp://www.travelsignposts.com/Germany/shopping/kathe-wohlfahrt-christmas-village
http://www.travelsignposts.com/Germany/shopping/kathe-wohlfahrt-christmas-village#respondMon, 02 Feb 2015 12:22:29 +0000http://www.travelsignposts.com/Germany/?p=5093KATHE WOHLFAHRT STORES ARE THEMSELVES A TOURIST ATTRACTION: Rothenburg ob der Tauber was one of the stops on our German Christmas Markets tour. We like this medieval walled city very much and so we were thrilled to be making a stop in this city. There are lots to see and do in Rothenburg, but the […]

Rothenburg ob der Tauber was one of the stops on our German Christmas Markets tour. We like this medieval walled city very much and so we were thrilled to be making a stop in this city. There are lots to see and do in Rothenburg, but the city also happens to be the head office of Käthe Wohlfahrt.

A Christmas Experience

For lovers of Christmas decorations and those who take their Christmas decorating to a fine art, the Käthe Wohlfahrt name brings with it a lot of shopping excitement. At the Käthe Wohlfahrt stores you can enjoy a Christmas experience any time of the year, but to visit at Christmas time itself is special.

The last time we came to Rothenburg in summer (albeit a rainy one), we missed visiting the Käthe Wohlfahrt shop as we had run out of time – it’s easy to lose track of time when exploring this medieval walled city. So on this visit, we made Käthe Wohlfahrt our first port of call, in spite of the Christmas markets being in operation.

Käthe Wohlfahrt Weihnachtsdorf

There are several Käthe Wohlfahrt stores in Rothenburg, and we visited the Weihnachtsdorf (Christmas Village) which is just off the main square at Herrngasse 1.

Käthe Wohlfahrt Gift Express

In front of the store, is the Käthe Wohlfahrt Gift Express. Although this vintage car, stacked with gift boxes, will not deliver your shopping for you, the publicity vehicle makes for a nice photo souvenir. It certainly is very popular with visitors, all wanting to pose next to it.

The Christmas Village

Guarding the entrance to the Christmas Village is a giant nutcracker by the name of Christian I and his brother Christian II is inside, welcoming visitors to the store. One look inside the Christmas

Snow-covered Christmas Village

Village and it was easy to be swept into the spirit of Christmas shopping. Designed to look like a Franconian village, the snow-covered houses under the stars, contain displays of all kinds of Christmas decorations. In the centre of the village stands a 16 ft white revolving Christmas tree laden with 1,000 glass baubles and thousands of sparkling lights. As the tree revolves, the baubles catch the light from the stars and it is a sparkling sight.

An Aladdin’s Cave at Käthe Wohlfahrt

Down at the village, its winding “cobbled streets” lead us through the Aladdin’s Cave of Christmas decorations. There are alcoves and shelves stacked with nutcrackers, pyramids, glass ornaments, wooden incense smokers, cuckoo clocks, table linen, pewter and more. If you’re buying a gift for someone special, the Käthe Wohlfahrt craftsman is on hand to engrave your special message for you.

Käthe Wohlfahrt Craftsman

The toy medieval village is a hive of activity and a sure attraction for children. Cuddly bears, fluffy rabbits and monkeys are all busy preparing for Christmas. Some are house-cleaning, while others are doing their daily chores on the balconies. Kermit for one is hanging out his washing.

Fluffy animals in the Toy Village

What to Buy at Käthe Wohlfahrt

Tony takes fright at the price tag

There are 16,000 sq ft of Christmas decorations at the Christmas Village, so there’s no shortage of choices here. Although some of the products may appear pricey, they are quality products from specially selected suppliers – you won’t find any cheap imports here. There are some seriously expensive pyramids and Tony took fright at some of the price tags.

Much as I love the colourful glass ornaments, I have to settle for Christmas table linen and other table decorations as gifts for relatives – they at least will not break in our already overweight bags. At Käthe Wohlfahrt, it’s not a case of what to buy, but how much your luggage can take!

All too soon it’s time to leave and we didn’t even have time to visit the German Christmas Museum (inside the Käthe Wohlfahrt Christmas Village). Oh well, we’ll just have to come back again. You can buy Käthe Wohlfahrt Christmas decorations online or at many of the Christmas markets, but the in-store Christmas experience is just magic.

Me and my Käthe Wohlfahrt goodies

Tax-Free Shopping

Käthe Wohlfahrt offers tax-free shopping and the sales assistants will efficiently generate the Tax Refund Cheque for you. In Germany, you only have to spend Euro 30, in the one receipt, to be eligible for VAT refund, that is if you’re from a non-EU country.

]]>http://www.travelsignposts.com/Germany/shopping/kathe-wohlfahrt-christmas-village/feed/0Easter Concerts in Berlin 2015http://www.travelsignposts.com/Germany/news-events/easter-concerts-in-berlin-2012
http://www.travelsignposts.com/Germany/news-events/easter-concerts-in-berlin-2012#respondSat, 17 Jan 2015 13:00:21 +0000http://www.travelsignposts.com/Germany/?p=3681EASTER IN BERLIN 2015 – MUSIC IS AN IMPORTANT ELEMENT OF EASTER FESTIVITIES IN BERLIN: Easter is a popular holiday period in Germany and the Easter festivities are still celebrated in the traditional way by many Germans. Easter markets, Easter bonfires, Easter brunches and Easter services all form a part of the Easter celebrations in […]

]]>EASTER IN BERLIN 2015 – MUSIC IS AN IMPORTANT ELEMENT OF EASTER FESTIVITIES IN BERLIN:

Easter in Berlin

Easter is a popular holiday period in Germany and the Easter festivities are still celebrated in the traditional way by many Germans. Easter markets, Easter bonfires, Easter brunches and Easter services all form a part of the Easter celebrations in Germany.

Music is another important element of the Easter festivities and if you are in Berlin, there is a huge repertoire of Easter concerts that you can enjoy, including an Easter Tango Festival.

At this Good Friday concert you can enjoy the choral works of Bach and Schubert conducted by Andreas Spering. The NDR Chorus performs alongside the Konzerthausorchester Berlin and soloists including star soprano Marlis Petersen.

Enjoy a concert at one of Berlin’s most important architectural treasures. The Bode Museum on Berlin’s Museum Island has been renovated recently and this concert offers music lovers the opportunity to experience classical music in this historically preserved building.

Italy comes to Berlin at this Easter weekend concert. Some of the most well-loved compositions in the Baroque repertoire include Vivaldi’s ‘The Four Seasons’ and works by Puccini, Rossini and Corelli will be performed by Festival Orchestra Berlin under the baton of Stefan Bevier.

For an experience that’s a little different, indulge in a musical interlude at the Castle Köpenick in Berlin. Here you can enjoy performances by young talents and established musicians in the Aurora Hall of the lovely Baroque palace.

]]>http://www.travelsignposts.com/Germany/news-events/easter-concerts-in-berlin-2012/feed/0Starkbierfest 2015 at Paulaner am Nockherberghttp://www.travelsignposts.com/Germany/news-events/nockherberg-starkbierfest
http://www.travelsignposts.com/Germany/news-events/nockherberg-starkbierfest#commentsSat, 17 Jan 2015 00:30:01 +0000http://www.travelsignposts.com/Germany/?p=3257STARKBIERFEST 2015: THE STRONG BEER FESTIVAL AT NOCKHERBERG: Lent 2015 begins on Wednesday, February 18 and ends on Thursday, April 2nd and the Nockherberg Starkbierfest 2015 will take place from February 27 to March 15, 2015. Starkbierfest is the Strong Beer Festival and drinkers who like stouts will enjoy the Salvator at Nockherberg, a bottom-fermented […]

Lent 2015 begins on Wednesday, February 18 and ends on Thursday, April 2nd and the Nockherberg Starkbierfest 2015 will take place from February 27 to March 15, 2015.

Starkbierfest is the Strong Beer Festival and drinkers who like stouts will enjoy the Salvator at Nockherberg, a bottom-fermented strong Doppelbock beer (alcohol 7.5%). During the Starkbierfest, Salvator stout is traditionally served in 1-litre steins, called the Keferloher.

Music at Nockherberg Starkbierfest

During the festival, “Die Nockherberger”, their Oktoberfest band, will provide live music from 4:00 p.m. on week days and from 2:00 p.m. on weekends.

Food at Nockherberg

Visitors to Nockherberg’s Starkbierfest will be able to enjoy typical Bavarian specialties like pork knuckle, chicken, duck and more. There will be stands selling souvenirs, the traditional gingerbread hearts and other delicacies.